BUTTERWORTH: One of Penang’s most critical waterworks upgrades is being delayed by an unexpected factor – the moon.
During the current new moon phase, its increasing proximity is triggering intense high tides, raising both river and groundwater levels. As a result, pits dug for underground pipe installations are filling with water, hindering progress.
Work had initially progressed smoothly on the 23 water grid repairs and upgrades by Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) after a scheduled shutdown of water supply to over 1.4 million residents at 10pm on Friday.
By 10.30am the following day, PBAPP announced that 19 out of the 23 projects had been completed, with overall progress at 85%.
Then the high tide rolled in and by noon, it reached 2.6m high, raising river levels several kilometres inland and flooding two underground replacement pits with greenish water, as they were dug about 30m from riverbanks.
Tomorrow at 3.30am, the moon will reach its closest point to Earth this year at 357,141km, compared with the average distance of almost 390,000km.
This supermoon will cause a high tide to reach 2.8m at 1.30pm.
Scarce times: Nur Liyana Izzati, 19, pouring water into a steel pot. Businesses, particularly eateries, in various parts of the state are bracing themselves for potential water supply disruption. — LIM BENG TATT/The Star
PBAPP chief executive officer Datuk K. Pathmanathan reprimanded contractors for failing to factor in the supermoon tides, which caused one end of a pipeline to become submerged.
“We pay them millions and yet they failed to complete the work as scheduled,” he said.
Despite the setback, he assured that the 24-hour target would be met and water supply to 40% of affected areas would be restored by 10pm.
For the remaining areas, restoration might take until tomorrow, as trapped air in the water grid must be released at many points for flow to resume.
At the site of the final section of a 1.35m-diameter pipe being connected to span Sungai Perai, checks showed how arduous the task is – the new pipe must be welded inside and out to withstand high water pressure.
Inside the pipe, welding generates such intense heat that each pair of welders can only work for 45 minutes before rotating out.
